Joseph Foster's Birthday Book

The Birthday Book, which passed down to PH from his ancestor Joseph Foster, has noted in it the birthdays etc. of various family members, written in at least 2 different 'hands'.

NB - Joseph Foster was literate, but neither of his wives was able to sign their name at the time of their marriage to Joseph, so, unless they subsequently learnt to read and write, the entries in the book were written by Joseph himself, or one of his descendants. However, the Paint recipe possibly might have been written by his older brother John.

In addition to family members, there are 2 other people recorded: AW Dodgshun and Samuel Edmondson.

In month order, the entries are as follows:

This is Joseph's 2nd wife, born Elizabeth Rawling, and formerly Elizabeth Smith. She died aged 68.

At the top of the first January page is written "minaral Napter".

Son of Joseph's first marriage, to Emily Williamson.

The "S." may be for "Smith", but there doesn't seem to be a child of Elizabeth's first marriage called Samuel. He may have died young of course, and not been recorded in the censuses.

Jane Foster could refer to Joseph's mother's death in 1902, though she actually died on the 16th according to her death certificate.

It also could refer to Joseph's sister Jane, who died on 5th February 1878.

Either date could be mistakenly recorded as being the 15th.

It also could refer to either Jane's birth date, but I have no idea of their dates of birth.

Eliza Foster perhaps is Joseph's late sister Eliza Ann. I have no record of her birthdate. She died on 21st January 1878, so is not likely to have been buried as late as the 15 February.

Daughter of Joseph's first marriage, to Emily Williamson.

The most likely Samuel is the son of Robert, and was born at Leeds, though I've found no baptism, and have no idea why Joseph would have noted his birth date.

His father had been a railwayman, and the family moved about a lot, but by 1881 he had become a cab proprietor and they lived at Bingley, where Samuel still lived in 1911. He had a 3 years older brother Joseph, who might be the Joseph mentioned below Samuel's entry in the book.

As they lived in Leeds for only a short time, between censuses, I have no idea if they lived somewhere near the Fosters.

Joseph's father.

Joseph had a granddaughter named Renee, but she was born on 13 July. Her marriage to Arnold Dockray was registered in the December quarter of 1943, so a bit late for registering a May wedding.

Lavender is not the flower of the month for May.

Joseph's older brother.

Son of Joseph's first marriage, to Emily Williamson.

AW (Arthur William) Dodgshun was born in Leeds in 1847, son of a wealthy wool merchant, and was a member of the Queen Street Congregational Chapel, Leeds. He subsequently became a missionary, and died in Tanzania in 1879. It is unknown whether or not Joseph actually knew him or just heard about him and especially admired him.

AW was c.9 years older than Joseph, but both had brothers called George Frederick registered in the December quarter of 1848.

Around 1850, the Dodgshuns lived in Elmwood Grove, c. half a mile from the Fosters' home at Chancellor Street. They were of much higher station than the Fosters, though.

Around 1863, they lived at Springfield Mount, c. half a mile from the Fosters' new home off Kirkstall Road.

Joseph's brother William Junr. was married at Queen St. Chapel, so they may have met through this connection, but Joseph himself seems to have had most things done by the C/E.

The word "Foster" is written quite faintly, and possibly by a different person.

Joseph himself.

Son of Joseph's first marriage, to Emily Williamson.

Daughter of Joseph Foster, by Elizabeth Smith who he later married.

Son of Joseph's first marriage, to Emily Williamson.

Son of Joseph's first marriage, to Emily Williamson.

Joseph's first marriage, to Emily Williamson.

Son of Joseph's first marriage, to Emily Williamson.

Marriage of a son of Joseph and his first wife Emily.

Son of Joseph's first marriage, to Emily Williamson.

Daughter of Joseph's 2nd marriage, to Elizabeth Smith.

There are also 3 undated extra pages - a double page of details of government salaries, and a single page containing a recipe for Paint, signed J Foster. All 3 seem to be written in the same hand.

Government Pay: 2 facing pages of notes. Not sure whose writing, but resembles that of many of the other entries in the book. The spelling is not good, and some bits are a bit confused or confusing.

Some of the original text has a number raised above the title, indicating how many of these officials there were. In the transcription, these numbers have been placed at the end of the official title to avoid confusion.

Why this was recorded is unknown - perhaps the writer was a bit 'bolshie' and wanted to brood over, or show friends, how much government officials earned in comparison to the pittance a working man earned.

The amounts presumably are pounds sterling per annum:

Lefthand page:

Righthand page:

Lastly, a recipe for making your own paint. I'm not sure who wrote this, as their writing is very much alike as might be expected, but it could be Joseph, or perhaps more likely my Great Grandad John Foster, his older brother, who did painting and paperhanging inbetween his official job as a lamplighter. Also, the writer has signed the recipe, which Joseph would not really be likely to do.